Inter 0-1 Liverpool: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Inter 0-1 Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday, 09 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Liverpool edged out Inter with a 1-0 victory in a tense encounter. The game started with early disruption for Inter as Hakan Çalhanoğlu was forced off injured after just 11 minutes, replaced by Piotr Zieliński, and soon after Lautaro Martínez picked up a yellow card. Francesco Acerbi also had to make way for Yann Bisseck around the half-hour mark due to what looked like an issue, while Liverpool faced a VAR check on Hugo Ekitiké at 35 minutes, leading to his booking shortly after. Coming off a couple of recent defeats including a 1-2 loss to Atlético Madrid, Inter struggled to find their rhythm early on.

The second half saw more bookings, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan cautioned for Inter at 57 minutes and Curtis Jones for Liverpool at 73 minutes, as both sides pushed for control. Liverpool made changes at 68 minutes, with Conor Bradley replacing Joe Gomez and Florian Wirtz coming on for Alexander Isak, before another VAR moment for Wirtz at 86 minutes set up the decisive penalty. Dominik Szoboszlai converted it in the 88th minute to seal the win, a boost for Liverpool after their heavy 1-4 defeat to PSV in the previous outing. Inter, who had been on a winning streak before these back-to-back losses, made late subs including Carlos Augusto for Federico Dimarco and Ange-Yoan Bonny for Marcus Thuram at 82 and 83 minutes, but couldn’t turn the tide.

The match was evenly balanced in possession with both sides sharing 50% of the ball, suggesting neither team truly dominated the flow, though Inter edged it on corners with six to Liverpool’s three, hinting at more set-piece threats from the hosts. Successful dribbles were close too, Inter with 75 and Liverpool on 71, showing plenty of individual flair on display without one side overwhelming the other. Cards piled up with Inter picking up three yellows and Liverpool two, reflecting a feisty affair, while Liverpool converted their sole penalty chance compared to none for Inter, which proved the difference late on.

Substitutions told a story of disruption for Inter, who used all five with early changes like Piotr Zieliński replacing Hakan Çalhanoğlu at 11 minutes and Yann Bisseck for Francesco Acerbi at 31 minutes, plus later swaps such as Carlos Augusto for Federico Dimarco at 82 minutes and both Ange-Yoan Bonny for Marcus Thuram and Petar Sučić for Henrikh Mkhitaryan at 83 minutes. Liverpool were more conservative with just two subs, Conor Bradley coming on for Joe Gomez and Florian Wirtz for Alexander Isak, both at 68 minutes, helping them maintain energy for that crucial late push.

The game hinged on a late penalty drama that handed Liverpool the win, with Dominik Szoboszlai stepping up to score from the spot in the 88th minute after a VAR review involving Florian Wirtz just two minutes earlier confirmed the decision. Earlier, Inter faced setbacks with yellow cards for Lautaro Martínez at 13 minutes, Henrikh Mkhitaryan at 57 minutes, and Alessandro Bastoni at 87 minutes, adding to their frustrations. Liverpool weren’t without issues, as Hugo Ekitiké saw a VAR check at 35 minutes before his yellow card four minutes later, and Curtis Jones was booked at 73 minutes, but they held firm.

Substitutions played a big role too, especially for Inter with early enforced changes like Piotr Zieliński replacing the injured Hakan Çalhanoğlu at 11 minutes and Yann Bisseck coming on for Francesco Acerbi at 31 minutes, which disrupted their defensive setup. Liverpool’s double switch at 68 minutes, with Conor Bradley for Joe Gomez and Florian Wirtz for Alexander Isak, injected fresh legs that contributed to the build-up of the winning moment.

Inter lined up in a 3-5-2 shape, relying on a solid back three including Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi before his early exit, with wing-backs like Federico Dimarco pushing forward until Carlos Augusto took over late on. Up front, Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram formed a dangerous partnership, though Thuram made way for Ange-Yoan Bonny in the closing stages, while midfield saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Çalhanoğlu starting before their respective substitutions for Petar Sučić and Piotr Zieliński.

Liverpool set up in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with a midfield trio including Curtis Jones providing energy and support to the attacking duo up top, where Alexander Isak started before Florian Wirtz replaced him. Dominik Szoboszlai operated in an advanced role, making key contributions including the match-winning penalty, while defensively Joe Gomez held the line until Conor Bradley came on, adding width on the right.

Dominik Szoboszlai earned Coral’s Man of the Match honours for his decisive impact, netting the only goal of the game from the penalty spot while also delivering two key passes that helped Liverpool create openings. Though he didn’t rack up assists or big chances created, his composure under pressure in the dying minutes turned the match in Liverpool’s favour. Starting the game, he showed why he’s a vital part of their setup with that late heroics.

Recent Champions League matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Liverpool (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Atlético Madrid (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Kairat (H)
• Win: 4-0 vs Union Saint-Gilloise (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Slavia Praha (H)

Recent Champions League matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Inter (A)
• Loss: 1-4 vs PSV (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Real Madrid (H)
• Win: 5-1 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Galatasaray (A)

Inter have just suffered a 0-1 home defeat to Liverpool, marking back-to-back losses after a run of three straight wins including a 4-0 thrashing of Union Saint-Gilloise, leaving them fifth on 12 points and eager to bounce back. Their next fixture is against Genoa on 14 December 2025 at 17:00, a chance to regain momentum and push for a higher spot, though Genoa’s current form and points are yet to be confirmed, making it a key test to avoid slipping further.

Liverpool have just secured a hard-fought 1-0 away win over Inter, building on recent victories like their 1-0 triumph against Real Madrid and a 5-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt, despite a heavy loss to PSV in between, positioning them eighth on 12 points. They face Brighton & Hove Albion next on 13 December 2025 at 15:00, an opportunity to climb the table with another positive result, as Brighton’s standing and points remain to be confirmed ahead of what could be a competitive clash.

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